TITLE:
Prevalence, Aetiology, and Clinical Profile of Acute Abdomen in Pregnancy in Southwest Cameroon: A 5-Year Retrospective Study
AUTHORS:
Yannick Mahamat Ekani Boukar, Divine Mokake, Felix Adolphe Elong, Terence Dze Enah, Moussa Adam Adami, Eric Patrick Savom, Anutebeh Verdo Zisuh, Guy Aristide Bang, Alain Chichom Mefire, Arthur Essomba, Marcellin Ngowe Ngowe, Maurice Aurelien Sosso
KEYWORDS:
Acute Abdomen, Pregnancy, Southwest Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.14 No.1,
January
16,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: Acute abdomen is one of the commonest reasons for presentation at the
emergency department. The physiologic changes of pregnancy increase the chances of developing acute abdomen. The
global incidence of acute abdomen in pregnancy range from 1 in 500 to 1 in
635 pregnant women. In 2018, a study in Azerbaijan reported a prevalence of
25%. However, to the best of our knowledge, very few studies have been carried
out on this subject in Cameroon. Objectives: To determine the prevalence, assess the
aetiologies, and review clinical profile of acute abdomen in pregnancy in the
Southwest Cameroon. Methods: We conducted a 5-year
retrospective study at the Obst/Gyn and Surgical units of Kumba, Buea, and
Limbe Regional Hospitals. We included all files of pregnant women
that were admitted for acute abdomen within the study period (1st Jan 2017 to 31st Dec 2021). Data was collected using a structured
checklist adapted from previous studies. Descriptive statistics and statistical
testing was done using SPSS version 25.0. Chi-square was used to compare
categorical variables. p Results: Over 14,106 pregnant women were admitted to the aforementioned hospitals
within the study period. 335 (2.4%) met our inclusion criteria. The patients’
age ranged from 17 to 43 years. The mean age was 27 years. Acute abdomen was
more frequent (65%) in the first trimester. Ectopic pregnancy was the commonest obstetric aetiology while appendicitis was the commonest non obstetric surgical aetiology. Abdominal pain and tenderness were
the most common presentation. Conclusion: The prevalence of acute abdomen in pregnancy in the Southwest Cameroon
is 10 times higher than the global
prevalence. Our study also confirmed the numerous aetiologies and varied
clinical presentations of acute abdomen in pregnancy. Hence a wake-up
call for primary care physicians.